All KB Protect IOs Equal?

Hey folks. Question on KB protect Global IOs.

I've got a few blasters and corruptors who could seriously use some KB protection. I've been lucky enough to get a Blessing/Zephyr recipe to drop once and the difference on my main blaster was VERY noticeable when I was running my last LGTF. I'd like to carry that advantage over into my beloved redsider squishies, but I'm curious if there any inherent advantage/disadvantage to any of the versions.

Anyway, I noticed that the market has some relatively cheap KB protect IOs (Steadfast Protection), but is usually flat out of any further BoZ's or Karma. I was just curious if there was an advantage to one kind vs. another.

Considerations:

1. Being not an ebil marketeer or someone who does a lot of farming for inf, I am relatively cash-poor (richest redside is about 100M; 80M on blueside; not shabby but I need to budget when IO'ing).

2. I'm not softcapped or building toward softcap anything, so having mule-slots might require a respec or an expensive 2nd build (and see point one for my trepidation with that).

The main distinction being where you can slot a given IO -- BoZ slots into any pool travel power, so it's easy for anyone to use. Karma slots into defense I think, so it will go into Hover or Stealth pool powers. Steadfast, being a resist IO, probably is more difficult for some ATs to slot.

I think they all grant 4 points KB protection, if I remember correctly. If you pick up tough for any reason, then go with the Steadfast.

Biggest reason for that, IIRC, is defense powers are easier for everyone to pick up, so Karmas are in more demand than Steadfasts.

And Zephyrs are not just universal travel, but have nice set bonuses as well. I don't think any other sets give such nice positional bonuses as it does within the 2/3 slotting bonuses.

Biggest thing to know is that the KB protection IOs are globals (and thus a set bonus), not procs or 120s. So you don't have to have them in an active power, but if you exemplar 4 or more levels below the enhancement's level you lose the bonus.

Also, Zephyr has some very desirable defense in the set bonuses for very few slots, which add tremendously to the price.

Organica is correct, all three types are -4 KB protection.

One thing to remember is that the KB protection acts as a set bonus, and will disappear if you exemp more than 3 levels below the level of the IO.

All three of the KB protection IOs provide mag 4 protection to KB. The difference is where you can slot them and what other bonuses the set can provide. If I were to guess, I'd say that the Steadfast IO is more readily available because fewer players have a damage resistance power to slot one in. Travel and defense powers are readily available through the power pools, but AFAIK the only way to get a resist damage power is to have one in your primary or secondary or by taking Tough from the Fighting Pool.

So by all means, if you don't need or want the BotZ defense bonuses, buy the cheapest KB protection IO that you can slot.

By the way, the Kinetic Crash KB set also gives KB protection as a 4-slot bonus, but that's only mag 3 protection. (Plus the fact that it's in a KB set, which many players can't or prefer not to use.)

SHAME! was Autohit.

Stargeek was slowed.

As I recall, Elude also takes universal travel.

Don't forget about the Kinetic Crash set that offers 3 points KB protection as one of the set bonuses. I have two sets of KC in my Energy Blaster for 6 points of KB protection.

But, but... I 6 slotted my credibility with Red Fortune.

Well, it's good to know that the particular Wiki page I referenced was incorrect and is being fixed.

Technically, nothing on that page was wrong. The benefit given by a set bonus is, for the most part, constant regardless of character or IO level. Maybe one or two exceptions in which AT mods adjust them. But the value doesn't depend on character level or IO level. Now, wither or not the bonus is granted does. but that's different.